From Thursday to Monday during this tourism season, travellers will be able to fly between Virgin Gorda and Puerto Rico aboard eight-seater planes operated by the Connecticut-based airline Tradewind Aviation.
The new seasonal service launched last Thursday, and it will operate until April 8 with one-way prices starting at $128, according to the airline.
Currently, two nonstop flights per day are scheduled each way.
“Consistent with Tradewind’s near-term goal of growing its already-strong presence throughout the Caribbean and ensuring seamless transportation between islands, the launch of scheduled service to Virgin Gorda will further solidify Tradewind’s position as the leading airline in the Caribbean,” the airline stated in a press release.
During a ceremony last Thursday at the Taddy Bay International Airport on Virgin Gorda, Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture Luce Hodge-Smith described the new service as a “big thing” for the Virgin Islands.
“This is something that the people of Virgin Gorda have been wanting for some time,” she said.
The aircraft
Passengers will have access to Tradewind’s private lounge in San Juan and travel in the airline’s fleet of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.
The eight-seater planes, which will be manned by two pilots, feature air-conditioning, pressurised cabins, and ample room for luggage, according to Tradewind.
“This gives us another option to fly out of the territory,” said BVI Tourist Board Director Clive McCoy. “With the arrival of Tradewind Aviation, we are not only opening up the skies above us, but we are also opening up countless opportunities for tourism and cultural exchange.”
Government isn’t subsidising the flights, Mr. McCoy added.
Brothers Eric and David Zipkin founded Tradewind in 2001. Since then, they have established routes to Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Newport, St. Barths, Anguilla, and Antigua. The airline operates out of bases in Puerto Rico, Florida and New York.